NameCensus.

UK surname

Playford

An English surname denoting someone from Playford, a place name originating from Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Playford surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 988, ranked #5,859, down from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Docking and Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Rother and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Playford is 1,063 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

988

2016, ranked #5,859

Peak year

1999

1,063 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Playford had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 988 in 2016, ranked #5,859.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 925 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Playford surname distribution map

The map shows where the Playford surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Playford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Playford over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 363 #6,525
1861 historical 329 #7,748
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 672 #5,804
1901 historical 823 #5,492
1911 historical 925 #4,845
1997 modern 1,011 #5,446
1998 modern 1,060 #5,406
1999 modern 1,063 #5,424
2000 modern 1,045 #5,492
2001 modern 1,016 #5,512
2002 modern 1,019 #5,611
2003 modern 1,028 #5,477
2004 modern 1,022 #5,502
2005 modern 986 #5,612
2006 modern 968 #5,701
2007 modern 966 #5,774
2008 modern 968 #5,791
2009 modern 1,000 #5,768
2010 modern 1,012 #5,840
2011 modern 974 #5,930
2012 modern 1,004 #5,716
2013 modern 1,018 #5,742
2014 modern 1,025 #5,742
2015 modern 999 #5,812
2016 modern 988 #5,859

Geography

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Where Playfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Docking, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Rother and North Norfolk. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Docking Norfolk
3 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 Rother 004 Rother
5 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Playford

These lists show first names that appear often with the Playford surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Playford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Playford, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Playford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Playford household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Playford is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Playford is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Playford falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Playford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Playford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Playford

The surname Playford originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the place name Playford, a village located in Suffolk. The name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "plega," meaning "play" or "sport," and "ford," referring to a shallow river crossing.

The earliest known record of the Playford surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pleifort." This ancient manuscript, commissioned by William the Conqueror, serves as a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England.

In the 13th century, the surname Playford is mentioned in various legal documents and court records from the county of Suffolk, indicating the name's strong association with the local region.

One notable figure bearing the Playford surname was Sir Thomas Playford (1512-1593), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Suffolk during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was John Playford (1623-1686), a renowned English music publisher and bookseller. He is credited with publishing numerous collections of music, including "The English Dancing Master," which helped preserve and disseminate traditional English folk tunes and dances.

In the 18th century, the Reverend James Playford (1712-1794) served as the Rector of Ufford in Suffolk, further cementing the family's connections to the county.

The name Playford has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Playford Mount in Suffolk and Playford Hall, a historic manor house in the same county.

Other notable individuals with the Playford surname include Sir Thomas Playford (1896-1977), a prominent Australian politician who served as the Premier of South Australia for over 27 years, and Sir Earle Page Playford (1895-1977), a distinguished Australian public servant and diplomat.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Playford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Playford surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 218 Playfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.37x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 218 23.37x
Sussex 103 10.07x
Yorkshire 65 1.08x
Kent 64 3.09x
Middlesex 53 0.87x
Suffolk 53 7.17x
Surrey 31 1.05x
Northumberland 11 1.22x
Essex 8 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 7 1.82x
Lancashire 3 0.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.40x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.38x
Somerset 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Docking in Norfolk leads with 71 Playfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 2423.21x.

Place Total Index
Docking 71 2423.21x
Great Yarmouth 31 40.11x
Northiam 18 717.13x
Ormesby 18 111.39x
Battersea 14 6.27x
Beccles 13 109.34x
Beckley 13 507.81x
Rye 13 133.74x
Hunslet 11 11.73x
St Marylebone London 11 3.40x
Stansfield 11 49.71x
Trimley St Martin 10 787.40x
Bilsington 9 1139.24x
Burgh St Margaret 9 782.61x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 9 32.13x
Leeds 9 2.65x
Stanwell 9 200.45x
Tonbridge 9 12.05x
Willesborough 9 161.58x
Bungay Holy Trinity 8 211.08x
Ewhurst 8 352.42x
Holt 8 250.78x
Norton Subcourse 8 1066.67x
Norwich St Julian 8 203.56x
Ore 8 105.12x
Barking 7 19.98x
Hastings St Clement 7 72.69x
Haverhill 7 106.54x
Ruckinge 7 853.66x
St Andrewthe Less 7 15.94x
Stanhoe 7 760.87x
Tynemouth 7 14.48x
Hackney London 6 1.76x
Houghton In Hole 6 1764.71x
Lakenham 6 45.28x
Norwich St Michael At 6 110.91x
Sigglesthorne 6 1333.33x
Brenenden 5 187.97x
Maidstone 5 8.11x
Malden 5 649.35x
Norwich St Stephen 5 58.41x
Sedlescombe 5 370.37x
St George Bloomsbury 5 14.36x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.51x
Hastings All Sts 4 41.49x
Holywell 4 86.21x
Islington London 4 0.68x
Kensington London 4 1.19x
Norwich St Clement 4 37.00x
Peasmarsh 4 229.89x
South Creake 4 188.68x
St George Hanover 4 5.05x
St Mary Woolnoth 4 1250.00x
Woodbridge 4 42.33x
Worstead 4 250.00x
Yalding 4 76.48x
Bermondsey 3 1.66x
Bungay St Mary 3 81.97x
Guestling 3 180.72x
Hastings St Mary 3 11.78x
Ipswich St Margaret 3 11.96x
Orford 3 126.05x
Orlestone 3 348.84x
St Pancras London 3 0.61x
Streatham 3 6.66x
East Grinstead 2 13.81x
Eastbourne 2 4.25x
Eston 2 15.28x
Felixstow 2 111.11x
Framfield 2 63.09x
Fring 2 555.56x
Hales 2 363.64x
Holy Trinity 2 1.38x
Linthorpe 2 5.57x
Litherland 2 13.29x
Newington 2 0.89x
Ormesby St Margaret W 2 85.47x
Reedham 2 112.36x
Shalford 2 61.16x
South Lynn 2 18.99x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Playford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 17
Emily 14
Ellen 12
Jane 12
Ann 8
Charlotte 8
Annie 7
Caroline 7
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Hannah 7
Agnes 6
Alice 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Martha 6
Susan 6
Edith 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Matilda 5
Rose 5
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Ada 3
Beatrice 3
Bertha 3
Florence 3
Lilian 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Ethel 2
Georgiana 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Phoebe 2
Elenor 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ella 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Hetherine 1
Violet 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Playford surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 43
John 36
George 27
James 23
Henry 17
Charles 16
Thomas 16
Robert 10
Edward 8
Alfred 7
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
Herbert 6
Ernest 5
Albert 4
Daniel 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
Elijah 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Arminger 2
Edmund 2
Horace 2
Joseph 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Spencer 2
Christopher 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Geo.K. 1
Hannah 1
Heleb 1
Jabez 1
Jane 1
Jaras 1
Johnes 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Loveday 1
Michael 1
Midan 1
Neddy 1
Peter 1
Priest 1
Randall 1
Reginal 1
Reuben 1

FAQ

Playford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Playford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Playford surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Playford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 988 in 2016. That gives Playford a modern rank of #5,859.

What does the Playford surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone from Playford, a place name originating from Old English.

What does the Playford map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Playford bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.